Questions and comments re the Harris filter

[brewbie]

This may be a silly question but........Do you filter before or after you have sweetened to taste? Or does it make no difference?

[Duffbeer]

This may be a silly question but........Do you filter before or after you have sweetened to taste? Or does it make no difference?

It makes no difference, although an unsweetened wine will filter a little quicker as the liquid would be thinner.

[Mamgiowl]

On the other hand I filter as the very last thing I do before ageing or bottling, as that negates the necessity of doing it again should anything silly happen like a re-ferment. Should add that I like my wines a tad sweet.

[lockwood1956]

I also filter as the last action before bottling

[brewbie]

Thanks guys.....I have just ordered my filter after reading this, thanks for a great tutorial

[fifthwheel]

I've just done the most stupid thing, I got out my Harris filter and forgot to use it, I bottled my red wine straight into the bottles all five gallons of it. I had red and white to bottle tonight but only remembered as I was about to bottle the white, the difference the filter made to the white was really noticeable if I could improve the red as much I would pull the red wine corks and start again. Should I do that or just leave it, I have about seven weeks left to my daughters wedding and this is the wine for it. I just cant believe I've done it as this wine is so important.

[lockwood1956]

How many bottles have you bottled?

Not filtering wont be as noticeable in the red....

was it crystal clear at bottling?


regards
Bob

[fifthwheel]

I bottled 28 red, it looked very clear it had been sitting waiting to be bottled for about 10 days longer than the kit instructions said so I suppose that was in my favour. I have only just started using my filter and as yet its not become second nature, I ran about 4 bottles of wine number 1 through it and the difference was amazing. thanks, john

[Mamgiowl]

I'd open one bottle of the red and have a good look at it in the glass. If it is crystal clear, well and good, cork it up again.

However this is for 'public' consumption and as such is a showcase for your wine. If it was me I'd bite the bullet and put it through the filter. It's a pain but worth it I think.

[Duffbeer]

However this is for 'public' consumption and as such is a showcase for your wine. If it was me I'd bite the bullet and put it through the filter. It's a pain but worth it I think.

I agree, or your run the risk of getting a sediment line in the bottle which won't look too good at a wedding

[fifthwheel]

Thanks for the replies if I run it through the filter will it be ok open to the air or am I being too paranoid?

[lockwood1956]

That limited exposure to air wont hurt it

regards
Bob

[plonky]

Some people stick a straw into the hose and suck on that. Should be much less chance of infection, but more chance of a mess if you have trouble pulling the straw out.

Steve

I just fill the syphon tube with wine keeping exit end closed insert into wine to be racked let go of the other end and voila gravity pulls the rest through.

[fifthwheel]

Should I empty the bottles into a fermenter then filter back into the bottles or try to filter each bottle individually.

[Zebedee]

I think I would empty into a fermenter and leave for 2 or 3 weeks before I filtered.